Return Of Lavar

Redskins Locker Room

What kind of Impact do you think Lavar's return will have on the team this year? 2004 was supposed to be his breakout year moving from strong-side to weak-side linebacker. Despite being the number one ranked defense in the NFC, I have jokers here at work saying that we don't need him. I tend to think otherwise. I don't think you can ever be good enough in football. His superior skills and leadership could bring us a long way.

No one can conivnce me that we were better without him. I honestly think we may have been a playoff team with him. As good as our defense was it was not a consistent big play defense. They were great against the run and great against the pass but imagine the big plays Arrington could have provided. We could be talking 3 or 4 more turnovers generated. If we get those extra big plays at the right time we're a 9-7 team and everything is different. Of course this is all total speculation but it is quite possible.

I see LaVar as a leader on the field, I could care less about his contract squabbles. Players understand that's the business side of things, I guarantee in the locker room nobody cares about his grievance they way the fans do.

It's not the contract squabbles that keep LaVar from being a leader. It's his lack of concentration and education to play his position. He overpursues many, many plays. As many big plays as LaVar makes, he also gives up a big play with counters, etc.

I don't see LaVar as the leader of our defense. To me - Fred Smoot has that role. I think he's more important than Pierce because of that reason (I know that makes me a minority, but what else is new!)

LaVar is by far the leader of the defense. He was very focused last year until his injury. He wants to be the best and lead the team. I think it was pretty obvious that he was he hurt in the Bucs game and still played the Giants game and had an impact. Maybe he is too much of a competitor for his own good. I thought last year he would have made a push for D-MVP and I think he will be even more focused and pissed this year.